The Cycle of the Moon

The phases of the Moon (new, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full, and the waning phases back to new), are among the oldest and most widely used timekeeping cycles in ritual and agricultural practice. The cycle from new to full and back takes about twenty-nine and a half days and is visible to everyone, which made it a natural clock long before written calendars.

Each phase carries associations: the waxing Moon with growth, increase and beginnings, the full Moon with culmination and power, the waning Moon with reduction, release and endings, and the dark Moon with rest and renewal.